6 Nigerian Celebrities Who Have Traditional Tribal Marks On Their Face

The Yoruba tribal marks are scarification which are specific identification and beautification marks designed on the face or body of the Yoruba people. The tribal marks are part of the Yoruba culture and are usually inscribed on the body by burning or cutting of the skin during childhood.

The primary function of the tribal marks is for identification of a person’s tribe or family and it is a key factor to the people’s survival and existence. Families or individuals lacking the normal features consistent with the tribe are not considered as acquiring full standing as agents in Yoruba society.

While understanding that tribal mark is not peculiar to the Yoruba people alone, but other parts of the country, the celebrities who have tribal marks on their face are mostly Yoruba people.

Here’s a list of some popular Nigerian celebrities with traditional tribal marks on their face.

1. Skales Raoul John Njeng-Njeng, who performs under the mononym Skales, is a Nigerian rapper, singer-songwriter and performer. In 2000, he started writing rap songs in Kaduna. Between 2007 to 2008, he travelled to Jos to work with Jesse Jagz and Jeremiah Gyang. He later relocated to Lagos and signed a record deal with Empire Mates Entertainment in 2009.

Skales established his record label, OHK Music, after departing from Empire Mates Entertainment in May 2014. Skales’ debut album, Man of the Year, is scheduled to be released in 2015.

Skales has markings on his face that look like traditional marks, but it isn’t very obvious until you take a closer look.

2. 9ice Real names Abolore Akande but popularly known by the stage name ‘9ice’. He is a Nigerian musician and a south-westerner from Ogbomoso in Oyo State but he grew up in the district of Bariga in Lagos.

He is synonymous for his very traditional verses which boast of yoruba parables and popular sayings that depict a proud heritage of Yoruba culture. The 35-year-old is one of the few celebrities who have a traditional market on their face.

3. King Sunny Ade “King” Sunny Adé is a Nigerian musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and a pioneer of modern world music. He has been classed as one of the most influential musicians of all time.

Adé was born to a Nigerian royal family in Ondo, thus making him an Omoba of the Yoruba people.

He was nominated for Grammy Awards more than once. He is one of the few celebrities who have a very obvious traditional mark on their face.

4. Olaniyi Afonja (Sanyeri)

Olaniyi Afonja is a Yoruba actor from Oyo state and he is popularly known as Sanyeri. His father is an artisan while his mother is a trader. He had his primary education at St.Michael Primary School, Oke-Ebo, Oyo Town, Oyo State, and later attended Durbar Grammar School, Oyo Town, Oyo State. He started his acting career sometime in 1991/92 but his parents didn’t approve of him being an actor.

He has become very successful today with his profession and one of his proud features is the traditional tribal mark on his face.

5. Brymo

Olawale Ashimi, who performs under the stage name Brymo, is a Nigerian recording artist and composer. He is also an Ambassador for The Lagos Chamber of Commerce And Industry. He was formerly signed to Chocolate City.

He is one of the few artists that has tribal mark beautifully carved on their face.

6. Ebun Oloyede

Alhaji Lukmon Ebun Oloyede, popularly known as Olaiya Igwe, Is a Hard Working Nollywood Actor

Ebun Oloyede as been called among the Yoruba movie industry Igwe he as been the subject people are talking about in town, that the dark complexioned actor.